"Test all things; hold fast to that which is good", 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Commentary, meaning, exegesis and understanding of the bible verse.
Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians with an exhortation to the Christian life: "Do not quench the spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test all things, hold fast to that which is good", 1 Thessalonians 5:21
The expression "test all things, hold fast to that which is good" is refered to free will, there is a similar teaching in 1 Corinthians 10:23-25: "All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others."
We have freedom to choose between good and evil, between the flesh and the spirit, between god and money: "God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel", Ecclesiasticus (The book of Sirach) 15:14.
Paul is reminding us that there is a basic choice, there are two discernments, one uplifting, just, progressive, benevolent, evolutionary, expansive; and another unfair, involuntary, chaotic, retarding. The first is the good discernment, the other the bad discernment.
Good and evil exist because there is freedom of choice. We all have the ability to do good, avoiding evil: "Do not quench the spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt".
At last Paul adds, choose the best, what builds the community, what seeks the common good: "The manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good", 1 Corinthians 12:7.
The spiritual life consist in living the spiritual gifts, to search the correct and the best. The correct for the spiritual gift of prophecy and the best for the piety, the mercy, the perseverance. Avoid error and the teaching of heresies, that take us away from the path of mercy, it is one of the keys to advance in spiritual growth. The gift of prophecy or counsel is always to correct, to point out the mistake. The gifts of prophecy is precision and accuracy. Where is the prophecy, there can be no heresy. The spiritual gift of prophecy leads to the life in common, the communion, the heresy instead to oppression.
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